WO2005013082A3 - System and method for providing information over a communications network - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to a method and system for gathering, arranging and providing information, such as investment information, to computer users over a communications network such as the Internet. In one embodiment, the present invention includes the steps of gathering a number of information item about a particular company or industry, summarizing those information items, assigning a reliability indicator to certain information items, and storing the items in a database. When a subscriber requests information concerning a particular company, the pertinent information items are retrieved and presented to the subscriber as an electronic page that includes a graphical representation of the company's stock price and trading volume for a selected time period. Additionally, when the subscriber indicates a data point, a summary of certain information items, including the reliability indicator for each item, associated with the data point appear for the subscriber's review. In another embodiment, the present invention is a system that includes at least a data storage module, a chart engine, and a communications module. In this embodiment, information items are gathered, summarized, and stored in the data structure module with certain information items being assigned a reliability indicator. In response to a subscriber's request, the chart engine retrieves pertinent information items from the data storage module and creates an electronic page. Thereafter, the chart engine provides the electronic page to the communications module which makes it available to a subscriber.